HANG TIME NEW JERSEY — Part of the Indiana Pacers’ success in the conference semifinals was keeping New York’s shooters in check. They knew that the Knicks were at their best when they were knocking down threes and, except for a flurry in the third quarter of Game 6, really did not allow themselves to get beat from beyond the arc.

With Paul George defending Carmelo Anthony one-on-one and Roy Hibbert protecting the rim, the Pacers’ other defenders were able to stay at home on the shooters.

That strategy is obviously more difficult when you replace Anthony with LeBron James and then throw Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh into the mix, but the Pacers still want to keep their opponent’s role players under wraps.

We remember James and Wade combining for 70 points in Game 5 of last year’s conference semifinals, but other than that 40-point explosion, the four-time MVP hasn’t had a really big scoring game against the Pacers over the last two years. Wade, we know, is banged up and looks only able to score in bursts here or there.

Consider the three games the Heat and Pacers played this season. James, Wade and Bosh had similar production in all three contests: 66 points on Jan. 8, 58 on Feb. 1, and 60 on March 10. And it was when their teammates came through with another 45 points that the Heat got their only win of the season series.

Heat offense vs. Indiana

Jan. 8 Loss

FGM

FGA

FG%

3PM

3PA

3PT%

FTM

FTA

PTS

eFG%

Bosh, James & Wade

24

46

52.2%

5

7

71.4%

13

18

66

57.6%

Others

4

22

18.2%

3

12

25.0%

0

0

11

25.0%

Total

28

68

41.2%

8

19

42.1%

13

18

77

47.1%

Feb. 1 Loss

FGM

FGA

FG%

3PM

3PA

3PT%

FTM

FTA

PTS

eFG%

Bosh, James & Wade

21

44

47.7%

1

3

33.3%

15

21

58

48.9%

Others

12

26

46.2%

4

11

36.4%

3

3

31

53.8%

Total

33

70

47.1%

5

14

35.7%

18

24

89

50.7%

Mar. 10 Win

FGM

FGA

FG%

3PM

3PA

3PT%

FTM

FTA

PTS

eFG%

Bosh, James & Wade

25

41

61.0%

1

3

33.3%

9

13

60

62.2%

Others

13

27

48.1%

6

11

54.5%

13

18

45

59.3%

Total

38

68

55.9%

7

14

50.0%

22

31

105

61.0%

Now, poor defense had a lot to do with the Feb. 1 loss, and Bosh’s nine field goals from outside the paint had a lot to do with the March 10 win. But with the way the Pacers defend and with the way the Heat is set up to succeed, it makes sense that Miami is most dangerous when the “others” are making shots.

Looking beyond the three games against Indiana, the Heat are 43-3 when players other than James, Wade and Bosh scored at least 37 points. Now, there’s a garbage-time factor there, but they’re also 33-2 when Mario Chalmers has scored nine points or more and 29-2 when Shane Battier has scored eight points or more. Neither of those guys plays a lot of garbage-time minutes. Chalmers scored 26 points in the win over the Pacers.

As was the case against New York, the Pacers don’t want to give shooters much space. They can do that for the most part in the Heat’s half-court offense, and the key might be transition. Three of Chalmers’ five 3-pointers in that March 10 game were generated by secondary breaks, where the Pacers simply didn’t get to him in time.

So the Pacers’ defensive success may come down to their offense. If they can avoid too many live-ball turnovers and maintain floor balance, they can get back in transition, stop Miami’s attackers and get out to the shooters.

And really, the shooters might be more important than the guys with the big names.

18 Comments

the best strategy is to let Lebron get 40 points but do not allow the other players to score. shut them all down and lock them, key them down. Lebron gets the 40 points but his team loses.
But LeBron is just so powerful now that players are already trembling when they guard him. I still think Michael Jordan is far far far greater and better than LeBron, but Lebron will be one of the Top 5 Greatest players of all times

pacers have the 2nd lowest scoring bench in the nba this past regular season, lakers being the worst, your tellin me that their bench will produce 4 times and their starters produce as well, close out miami and go to the finals? now how realistic is that? i understand you indy fans and heat haters, but lets come to reality..heat in 6

How many more players do the pacers need? they got west hibbert paul hill and then an array of role players hansborough, stephenson, etc. dont forget their defensive philosophy….dirty Defense like the bulls.
Yet you still say they need granger back and ANOTHER solid bench player!!
The pacers are an all around solid team..if you cant win with this then you’ll never win.

they also gotta contain LBJ and contain Dwade…hibert has to chase bosh to the mid court which will leave the rim open..their bench has to produce every single game at least 25-35 points. they also have to be careful with the ball..hmmm yeah dont see indy doin all this and winning many games against the heat…Miami in 6, good try indy

Maybe not this year but next with the fully healthy granger fulfilling the 6th man role,and an addition of another solid bench player,indy could have a much better chance of eliminating the heat and going to the finals.

ehhhh cant agree with that, when you surround a nba champ, 1 time nba finals mvp and 4 times mvp…aka the best basketball player in the world with players who know their specific roles..its impossible to beat them in a 7 game series…indy needs more than a granger to compete and beat the heat to advance to the finals…unless lebron gets a season ending injury, teams like chicago/indy/knicks/boston wont be advancing to the finals and try winning a ring for a good 2-3 more seasons…after wade retires we can have this discussion..but even then miami will figure out what to do about that…who wouldnt wanna play with lebron and miami heat? heat are gonna be champs for the 20 teen years..but nice try tho